Participation of TRPV1 in the activity of the GnRH system in male rats

GnRH neuron activity is under the influence of multiple stimuli, including those coming from the endocannabinoid and the immune systems. Since it has been previously suggested that some of the main elements controlling the GnRH pulse generator possess the TRPV1 receptor, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the participation of the hypothalamic TRPV1, through its pharmacological blockade, in the activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐testicular axis in male rats under basal or acute inflammatory conditions. Our hypothesis was based on the idea that the hypothalamic TRPV1 participates in the synthesis of the main neuromodulatory signals controlling GnRH, and therefore the reproductive axis. Our results showed that the hypothalamic TRPV1 blockade induced pro‐inflammatory effects by increasing Tnfα and Il‐1β mRNA hypothalamic levels and inhibited the reproductive axis by affecting Gnrh, Kiss1 and Rfrp3 mRNA levels and decreasing plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone under basal conditions, without significant additive effects in rats exposed to systemic LPS. Altogether, these results suggest that the hypothalamic TRPV1 receptor participates in the regulation of the GnRH system, probably by modulating immune‐dependent mechanisms.     

Treatment of moyamoya disease by cerebroarteriosynangiosis

The case of a child with multiple strokes secondary to moyamoya disease and a surgical technique to maximize cerebral revascularization, cerebroarteriosynangiosis, are presented in detail.     

Septal rage: Mitigation by pre-surgical treatment with p-chlorophenylalanine

Destruction of the septum leads to a well known hyperirritability syndrome. However, the intensity of this syndrome is modifiable by certain presurgical treatments. Injections, prior to surgery of para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) for two days or insulin for five days has no effect on septal rage. However, injections of PCPA five days prior to surgery leads to a marked reduction in septal hyperirritability.     

Surgical approach to the high subcranial internal carotid artery

Two cases are presented to describe surgical approaches to the high cervical internal carotid artery permitting surgical treatment of conditions such as aneurysms of the high carotid artery, fibromuscular dysplasia, and arteriosclerosis by endarterectomy or resection of a segment with the interposition of a graft.     

Precocious puberty of cerebral origin.

Eighty-two cases of precocious puberty of cerebral origin were reviewed. All shared as a common factor the distortion, compression, or destruction of diencephalic structures. Attempts were made to parallel basic research findings with those derived from human pathology, hoping to gain further insight into the physiopathology of precocious puberty of cerebral origin.     

High grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is a PSA-independent risk factor for prostate cancer in African American men: Results from a pilot study

African American men (AAM) demonstrate increased prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates. We investigated known prostate cancer risk factors in AAM. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and diagnosis of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) were significant prostate cancer predictors. However, even including AAM with low PSA (<4 ng/ml), those with PIN had significantly elevated risk, compared to men without PIN (83.3% vs. 6.9%, p < 0.0001). In AAM diagnosed with PIN, PSA level was no longer significant (83.3% vs. 92.3%, p = 0.593 respectively). Our results suggest that a history of PIN is highly predictive of prostate cancer in AAM, and help provide PSA-independent venues for screening.